TAIPEI, Taiwan - Prosecutors indicted 34 people for illegal gambling at a venue on Taipei's Hankou Street yesterday morning. Police arrested gamblers on the scene at the rented mahjong venue and confiscated a total of NT$111,320 (3.500 USD, 2.620 euros) — NT$76,320 in gambling funds and NT$35,000 in illegal profit.

After receiving reports of suspicious activities at the location, police went to investigate with a warrant on Feb. 24, after the Chinese New Year holidays.

They caught 32 gamblers, aged 21 to 82, who insisted they were playing mahjong for recreational purposes.

Police also arrested the venue organizer 56-year old Chen Yuan-qin, and 52-year old Chang Zhe-wei, who was hired to solicit gamblers.

Chang solicited gamblers by offering free memberships after simple identity checks, according to prosecutors. Gamblers were required to exchange NT$3,000 for chips, which they could exchange for money at the end of a game.

“It was difficult to let it slide,” said police, who are motioning for a summary judgment. The venue was casino-scale with eight tables in operation.”

(China Post)